Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Six: Opportunity in Crisis
“Congratulations, Karen. Your magical power rank has risen to C-rank.”
“It really went up…! I don’t really feel it, though.”
“It means your magical power is fitting cleanly into your vessel. You’ll feel it when you use it.”
The day after the fire. Since she had also ascended a level, Karen had come to the Alchemists’ Guild because Natalia said she would measure her magical power.
Yesterday, after that, she had returned to Gubert Trading Company and told Eugene about the witness information regarding the culprit. Then Gubert Trading Company took care of all the aftermath, Karen gave condolence money to the apartment residents as an apology, and the situation had reached a temporary resolution.
“Anyway, I’m going to become a D-rank alchemist now!”
Karen slammed down Waltride’s letter of recommendation on the Alchemists’ Guild counter. Natalia picked it up, and her eyes widened.
“How on earth did you get something like this!?”
“Various things happened.”
“It’s caught up in confidentiality obligations, huh? Because you overcame the troubles with Gubert Trading Company, perhaps? I heard you were dragged all the way before His Majesty the King.”
Without bothering to correct Natalia’s misunderstanding, Karen exhaled. If possible, she had wanted an apology from Gubert Trading Company before her rank went up. Otherwise, their apology would be nothing more than flattery toward Karen, who held a high rank. Karen wouldn’t feel any significance in an apology that came after she had become important.
But with her home burning down and other people getting involved like this, she couldn’t wait any longer. This time, the culprit was someone related to the Gubert Trading Company, but next time it might be different. And apart from the apartment residents, everyone else naturally leaned toward the Gubert Trading Company’s side.
Because Karen’s guild rank was still only E.
“…But your delivery record might be too sparse. I’ll bring it to the meeting, but I don’t know if it will pass.”
“I’d like to become D-rank as soon as possible, though.”
“I’ll do my best, Karen. If you’re going to fight, I want to fight alongside you.”
“Natalia… thank you. That’s reassuring.”
If she could rise to D-rank, the next goal would be C-rank. To become C-rank, she would have to be able to make medium recovery potions or potions of equivalent grade. Rather than reading papers, asking Yuluyana would probably be the shortcut.
If this commotion didn’t settle down even with Karen becoming D-rank, she would have to quickly become C-rank. From C-rank onwards, one joined the ranks of advanced alchemists. One could also take disciples.
Regarding the Merchants’ Guild, no matter if one was A-rank or even S-rank, advanced alchemists stood in a league above them. They were considered to have value equivalent to advanced adventurers. In both cases, ascending in rank depended on being acknowledged by the goddess.
“Well then, Natalia, I should be going.”
Karen had planned to return to her alchemy workshop and seek guidance from Yuluyana, who practically lived there, but the moment she stepped out of the Alchemists’ Guild, she realized her plans would have to change. A carriage was stopped in front of the guild, and a familiar figure stood before it.
“Lady Karen, I have come to escort you. Her Highness Waltride summons you.”
The escort was one of the Waltride’s maids, whom Karen also knew by sight. Riding the carriage to the princess’s palace, Karen was shown to Waltride’s room.
Even after entering the room, Waltride’s figure was nowhere to be seen. But if she stepped further into the back of the room, she could see that the center of the canopied bed was bulging up. The princess seemed to be covered with bedding from head to toe.
“Um, Lady Waltride? What has happened?”
“I have been chosen for the dungeon investigation team…”
Saying this, Waltride’s face emerged from the bedding, wet with tears. Even so, it was a beautiful countenance.
“His Majesty the King said that I, who overcame the trial, show promise… sob.”
“I see. If they could ruin you during the previous trial, that would have been enough. And since they failed, they’re now using your success as an excuse to cast you into even harsher difficulties.”
“I don’t want to go… I don’t want to go…”
Sitting uninvited in the chair beside the bed of the muttering Waltride, Karen asked with a wry smile:
“Can’t you ask His Majesty to remove you from the investigation team? Or can it only be avoided by marrying immediately?”
“His Majesty would probably remove me from the team if I asked.”
But Waltride’s voice became muffled.
“I don’t want to disappoint His Majesty, who has such expectations of me…!”
“So you’re crying because even though you don’t want to go, you must go.”
And the reason Karen had been called here was also clear.
“So you want me to come with you?”
“I indeed want you to come with me, but it is not merely my will. Read this.”
Waltride handed Karen an open letter from the bedside. It contained the name of someone recommending “E-rank Alchemist Karen” as Waltride’s attendant.
The recommender’s name was Eugene Gubert.
It was surely a move for the benefit of the Gubert Trading Company. Were they aiming to obstruct Karen’s research, or even move to eliminate her?
Either way, Karen could not refuse. If she opposed Gubert Trading Company, which was dedicating itself to dungeon investigation, while she herself couldn’t devote herself to dungeon investigation, and if the gaze toward Karen became harsh, this time it might not end with just her home burning down.
“…Both you and I have been cornered.”
“Will I be able to maintain my dignity as a princess even in the dungeon…?”
“At this point, why don’t you reveal your true personality to your maids, Lady Waltride?”
“I don’t want to do that!”
“Even so, I can’t cover for you all by myself…”
“I’ll manage it with willpower!”
It hardly seemed a princess-like solution, but if that was her wish, Karen could not stop her.
“The dungeon investigation team departs on the third of next month. Since members of the team are also invited to the National Foundation Festival, an invitation should reach you directly soon.”
“I’ll start preparing in a great hurry.”
“What will happen to my detox potions?”
“I can manage with materials gathered on site.”
“If you had said you couldn’t manage, I could have reluctantly declined…!”
“Ah, sorry. Shall I say it’s impossible?”
“No… It’s fine.”
Waltride slowly crawled out from under the bedding and sighed.
“Either way, my desire not to betray His Majesty’s expectations is strongest of all. Therefore, even if you said it was impossible, I probably would have thought of managing somehow… even though I don’t want to go this much.”
“We may have been pushed into the dungeon investigation team, but perhaps it is a good opportunity for both of us. If you are recognized, perhaps you might be acknowledged as a successor candidate to His Majesty the King?”
“Yes… I think so too. And you will be recognized as an alchemist necessary to the kingdom. You should be able to become D-rank with my letter of recommendation. After that, even if you can’t make medium recovery potions, if you achieve remarkable accomplishments in this dungeon investigation team, couldn’t you use that as a reason for advancement and become C-rank?”
“True, distinguished contributions to the guild or country can be reasons for advancement.”
For both of them, this was also a big chance.
“I just wanted to advance to C-rank as soon as possible anyway. Let’s do our best together to grasp the cause of the dungeon’s abnormalities. For now, I don’t really know what we should do, though.”
“First, I must practice maintaining a calm expression so it won’t be exposed that I’m frightened in front of monsters… I’ll practice.”
Waltride composed her face with determination. It was far too elementary. It might be impossible to seize the chance.
“I’ve heard that you’ve also been met with disaster because of me. Nevertheless, I’m grateful that you’re coming with me without hating me, Karen.”
“You did nothing wrong, Lady Waltride.”
“Yes. But it was clear from the beginning that involving you with me would drag you into politics… so I tried not to summon you to my place and went to meet you with my face hidden, but it was a meaningless consideration once I had you cooperate with me.”
It seemed that when Waltride had come to Karen’s alchemy workshop looking like a suspicious person, it was out of consideration for Karen. When Karen couldn’t help but laugh, Waltride also laughed with a pathetic expression.
“So that’s how it was. Thank you for your consideration. But well, it’s okay. I’m also getting involved in various troubles of my own volition, so I don’t know which ones are my fault and which ones are your fault, Lady Waltride.”
“If you’re an alchemist who will become S-rank, that would be natural.”
Waltride, convinced, bloomed with a smile like a flower. Karen still thought it a smile she never wished Julius to see—yet at the same time, she felt motivated to work hard to protect it.
When Karen left Waltride’s room, the two maids who had been waiting said:
“Please continue to take care of Her Highness Waltride, Lady Karen.”
“Her Highness is a most enduring lady, yet it seems only with you, Lady Karen, does she share her true feelings. Please continue to stay close to her.”
The two maids said this with gentle smiles. Perhaps they had already noticed Waltride’s true nature even without being told.
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