Chapter One Hundred and Six: Soap Turmoil 4
It was during one of Karen’s frustrated attempts to magically turn Spider Silk into powder that it was discovered Yuluyana could do it too.
‘Ms. Karen, it seems your magical power isn’t flowing through the material properly. Can you try increasing your output?’
‘I’m already at my limit…!’
‘In that case, try soaking the Spider Silk in water first, then infuse it with magical power.’
‘But I want to turn this into powder…! You’re telling me to wet it when I want it dry?’
‘Water is the origin of all things, the Arche. By passing through water first, all things become more susceptible to transformation.’
‘Arche! That sounds familiar!’
Karen recalled that philosophers from ancient times in her previous world had said similar things.
Following Yuluyana’s instructions, the silk successfully turned into wet powder, which when dried became a fine and beautiful powder.
The appraisal of this beautiful white powder revealed it had two magical effects: “reflects ultraviolet light" and "moisturizes skin." For Karen, having two magical effects appear simultaneously was a first-time achievement.
Yuluyana rejoiced at this new accomplishment as if it were his own, and said afterward:
‘I would like to try making it too.’
‘I want to see you creating a potion as well, Master!’
With both in agreement, Karen gave Yuluyana her place and observed his potion-making.
The Spider Silk effortlessly changed form into powder and gained magical properties.
‘Oh? It seems to have an effect that repels magic.’
‘Huh?’
‘The cocoon that Silk Spiders create to protect themselves repels magic, so it makes sense that such an effect would manifest.’
‘I didn’t know it had such an effect…’
‘Ms. Karen, how did your white powder gain magical properties when you didn’t even understand this basic fact?’
It was probably because she understood that even ordinary silk had ultraviolet light-blocking properties. If it could even reflect magic, then reflecting ultraviolet rays would be child’s play.
Due to this property, Spider Silk was apparently often used in adventurers’ clothing to increase magical defense. Karen and Yuluyana discovered that when this effect was fully drawn out with a high level magical power, it became magic-reflecting silk face powder.
At this point, both Karen and Yuluyana realized something:
If the ingredients had magical properties, then Karen’s potions could be replicated by Yuluyana too.
“If I submit a paper to the Alchemists’ Guild, my research results will soon be recognized. Officially, I’ll be recognized as the inventor of soap.”
“Th-that’s absurd! We were making it first! Even if you came up with the idea before us, we were selling soap first!”
“But apparently with potions, the invention is credited to whoever gets their paper recognized first. That must be frustrating for someone who’s been researching for a long time, right? But that’s just how the system works.”
“Wha…!”
No matter how unreasonable it might seem, this was the alchemical law established across nations throughout the continent. In other words, this battle had been decided in Karen’s favor from the beginning.
“This soap was made by my master.”
Karen picked up the bar of soap placed beside the water basin for washing hands, located just beside the entrance. The ingredients for soap were plant ash and oil.
Karen prepared ash from burned medicinal herbs and oil pressed from Trent fruits and taught Yuluyana the mechanism of soap-making.
Yuluyana quickly demonstrated making a soap potion. It was the birth of a wonderful soap that disinfected and healed wounds. And Yuluyana confirmed that even A-rank alchemists could reproduce this. He said that inventing a useful potion that other alchemists could make would surely be recognized as an achievement.
“Lies… lies, lies, lies, LIES!”
“I intend to become an S-rank alchemist eventually.”
“S-rank…?”
Isaac repeated in a hoarse voice.
Until just a moment ago, this man would’ve surely laughed in her face.
But now, he only stared blankly down at Karen’s face.
“I have no intention of forgiving you people who called me a fraudulent alchemist. So, I’ll crush you at the demonstration. Oh, and please don’t run away. If you flee, you might be exiled from the royal capital. I’ve had Lady Waltride ask His Majesty the King to arrange for that.”
“Y-You, how dare you trick us…!”
“I haven’t tricked you at all. Research simply progresses day by day—Mr. Isaac, do you understand your current situation?”
“Situation?”
He didn’t appear unintelligent. He was also a meticulous person. However, confused by this turn of events, his eyes darted restlessly.
“You’re a criminal who interfered with and tried to crush the research of an alchemist who invented a new potion. Aren’t you in a dangerous position now?”
“Lady Karen is absolutely right. Historically, those who obstructed the great research of alchemists have received severe punishments.”
Karen had also learned about this in commoner school.
Long ago, there was a small tribe who didn’t know how to make potions from herbs, but still used them for their healing power as salves. An alchemist visited the tribe, made a potion from those herbs, returned home, announced the discovery, and was hailed as a great inventor. The tribe protested, claiming they were the true discoverers of the herbs and inventors of the healing salve, but no one acknowledged them.
The fact that the alchemist could create a magical potion—that alone was proof the alchemist had been acknowledged by the goddess and had ascended the ranks.
And so, because the tribe was not recognized by the goddess, they were never able to create potions. Those who protested were given no sympathy and were executed for obstructing an alchemist’s research.
This was a tale teaching that one must not interfere with alchemists’ research.
Anyone who had attended a commoner school knew this story.
Isaac was dripping with cold sweat.
“I-I’m sorry. It seems I misunderstood… So!”
“Marian apologized properly and even came up with a way to make amends. My friends accepted that, so I forgave her. But I won’t forgive you.”
When Karen stated this firmly, Isaac trembled, his face turning pale.
“If there’s one way for you to save yourself, it’s this—have your contracted alchemist create a soap potion using non-magical materials, then claim it’s something you’d made long ago but just hadn’t submitted the paper for. If you demonstrate that to His Majesty the King, and since my thesis isn’t officially recognized yet, with your history of selling soap, your claim as the original inventor might prevail between two unapproved parties.”
“Lady Karen! There is no need to teach him such things!”
As Sara exclaimed anxiously, Isaac’s eyes lit up with renewed hope.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know that your latest paper also contains the soap recipe!? If an E-rank alchemist with D-rank magical power can do it, there’s no way our AA-rank alchemist couldn’t! Even if our contracted alchemists can’t do it, we have connections to many alchemists! And famous adventurers too! Even S-rank ones!”
After declaring this, Isaac dashed out of the alchemy workshop.
Marian said exasperatedly:
“Are you stupid? If you hadn’t said that, Brother Isaac would have given up in despair. But now he’ll search high and low for alchemists throughout the country who can reproduce your potion. Father will probably help too. He’s a man who has survived countless brutal situations. You’ve made such a man your enemy too!”
“I provoked him because I wanted him to do exactly that, so it’s fine.”
“Huh!?”
Ignoring the astonished Marian, Karen stared at the door through which Isaac had left and sighed, "I wonder if a week will be enough.”
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