“W-What?”
The elf girl backed away warily from the man who had suddenly approached her.
It seemed that she was afraid of Laurent.
“Alchemist skills… why an elf…?” When Laurent said this, the elf girl started in surprise and looked over at him.
How does this person know my skills? She thought.
For a moment, both of them stared at each other, wondering at each other’s strangeness.
“Pardon me, but do you have any business with my daughter?”
Laurent turned toward the voice. There was an elf who looked to be the girl’s mother.
Like all elves, she appeared young. It was difficult to think that she was already a mother, but from her expression and her behaviour, there was a melancholy drifting from her that was somehow characteristic of mothers. He could perceive that she had laboured through parenthood and life.
Just like her daughter, she gave Laurent a frightened look. He wondered if they were perhaps fearful of strangers.
“Excuse me, I represent the alchemist guild, Arsenal of the Spirits.”
“Alchemist…”
“Out of curiosity, I appraised your daughter’s skills just then. I found that she possesses many skills for silverwork, and inadvertently called out to her in surprise.”
“Appraisal… So you’re an appraiser?”
“Yes. Your daughter has a rare gift. Though she is an elf, she possesses [Silverwork], [Product Development] and even [Product Design] skills. And even more, I could see that there still is room for improvement for them.”
This man… In the span of an instant in which they passed by each other, he managed to detect my girl’s skill to this extent… It’s the first time I have seen an appraiser of his caliber.
“I hope I am not being too forward in asking the details of how your daughter came to acquire such a degree of alchemical knowledge?”
“This isn’t the best place.” She looked around restlessly, acutely aware of the surrounding gazes. “If it is alright with you, would you like to talk inside my shop?” She gave a small smile. It was the smile of someone who knew she was caught between a rock and a hard place.
Laurent obliged her suggestion and entered the shop.
In the elf-run flower shop, flowers of every colour bloomed in every corner.
Elves could form deep, emotional bonds with the natural world, so they had the ability to nurture the growth of flora.
They must have fostered that ability, for the array of floral products was as splendid as one would expect.
From seasonal flowers to flowers that were not supposed to bloom at this time of the year, they blossomed in abundance. He thought that there probably was not a single flower that did not bloom in this store.
It was only that the way in which the flowers and their prices were being displayed was not quite up to par. It seemed like they weren’t handling the business very smoothly.
After closing up the store, the elf mother showed Laurent into the back room.
There, she formally introduced herself and her daughter.
Her daughter’s name was Charl.
The mother’s name was Selyse.*
(T/N: The romanisation of her name is Shiruzu. I considered Sylis, but that made me think of syphilis, so…)
“When my daughter was young, she lived in a dwarven cave.”
“Dwarven? How did that happen?”
“A long time ago, there was a conflict between elves and dwarves. During that time, our village was attacked, and in the confusion, she was taken away.”
“That’s…”
“She was a prisoner of war, but it does not seem like she was ill-treated or assaulted. For some reason, some of the dwarves even taught her alchemy.”
“And that’s how she came by her alchemy skills.”
Dwarves lived in cave systems. They made a living from processing the ores that they mined from there, and many of them were proficient in alchemy.
If Charl studied alchemy under the dwarves, it was not a strange thing at all that she was equipped with such alchemy skills.
“After the dispute with the dwarves came to an end, she was returned safely to us. But it seems like even after she came back, she’s been practicing her alchemy in secret.” At Selyse’s words, Charl hung her head in shame.
It was apparent that coming from an elven household, having a daughter who specialised in alchemy, was not something they had happily come to grips with.
“If it is alright with you, I would like to try employing your daughter at my workshop. My workshop is currently looking for exceptional alchemists. It might be a bit difficult to understand, but with her talent and skill in alchemy, she would be an immediate asset. We would treat her with respect, just like an S-rank silverworker.”
“S-rank…” Selyse looked breathless.
She seemed shocked. She had likely never thought that her daughter had talent to the extent he was describing.
“Not putting her talents to full use would truly be a wasted opportunity. I beg you, let her come work with me.”
“I… I would have to discuss this with my husband,” the Elven mother replied ambiguously, giving him a strained smile. She seemed like an obedient wife.
Laurent pitched his offer for Charl to work at his workshop to her father.
But the reply he received from the Elven father was blunt. “Absolutely not! I will never permit my daughter to work at an alchemist workshop!”
Charl’s father, Isua, was a stereotypical, stubborn old man.
Though he looked as youthful as any elf, he was not fooling anyone with the air that he exuded.
In his displeasure, the deep furrow between his brows told of his obstinate ideas formed through his long years.
“Alchemy is a dwarf’s work. That lot belongs in their caves, hammering away at their metals. A daughter that takes after them, even a pale imitation—I won’t have it!” He was prejudiced against dwarves.
Elves and dwarves had a deep-seated conflict between them, and they scorned each other.
In the past, dwarves had disposed of their mercury in the rivers of Isua’s hometown, and he had never forgiven them for it.
The elves grew to hate dwarves and everything they stood for—even the alchemy that so many dwarves made a living with.
Laurent told him that all he wanted was for Charl to do some silverworking for him and that he had no intention of forcing her. But Isua still refused.
“Besides, isn’t the workshop a dirty place filled with smoke and soot in the air? We elves must be surrounded by greenery and clear waters, or we would immediately begin to suffocate. Even at the best of times, we are deprived of fresh air in this city. I will not expose my daughter to filthier air.”
Isua was a merchant from the Elven country.
In this free city, nationality, race and species did not matter. Anyone could come here for trade or adventure. But Isua had come to the city to purchase weapons.
Though he was prejudiced against and detested dwarves and alchemy, the Elven country itself was not free from war or territorial disputes. He had little choice but to rely on weapons.
He had drawn the short straw and had been dispatched to this city. It wasn’t entirely a bad thing, but it meant resigning himself to this life where he sold flowers and did as best as he could to buy weapons for his country.
“Regardless, I have no intention of allowing my daughter to work for you. Leave.”
Crestfallen, Laurent left the flower shop.
——
The next day, Laurent met Lilianne at their usual teahouse to discuss business.
“Then, shall we say 150 pieces of [Earth Stones] for this month?” Lilianne said, glancing at the papers Laurent had prepared.
“Yes, that would be great.”
“It’s about time a new dungeon will appear. We will need the [Earth Stones] when that time comes.”
“Do you think you can conquer at least two dungeons next month?”
“You’re as demanding as always.”
Last month, Guardians of the Magical Tree had managed to take possession of one dungeon, but the other two had fallen into Golden Hawk’s hands.
Up to three dungeons were guaranteed to appear around the city, but before last month, Golden Hawk had occupied all three.
Because of that, the second-ranked and lower adventurer guilds, starting from Guardians of the Magical Tree, had diligently gathered their resources before Golden Hawk conquered the dungeons. They completed quests, or participated in gathering materials after the dungeon was cleared—the reality was that they were trying their hardest to earn money.
This month, Lilianne had led the main force of Guardians of the Magical Tree and managed to conquer one dungeon before Golden Hawk. But as for the remaining two dungeons, they had been acquired by Golden Hawk as usual.
It was an inevitable outcome.
The standard required in the dungeon exploration force was thirty people.
Golden Hawk had three 30-man elite units capable of exploring the deepest sections of the dungeons.
It was impossible for other guilds to prepare that much manpower.
Within the city, the guild that boasted the second largest in scale was Guardians of the Magical Tree. And even they, at their very best, only had one 30-man elite unit at their disposal.
“Is that so? I suppose it’s hard even for you.”
“Yes, very much so. When I think of the weight of the guild’s fate resting on my shoulders, the pressure is terrifying.” Lilianne seemed tired. “It would help a lot if we could put together one more main attack force, but that isn’t going to happen.”
“… I see,” Laurent replied. He seemed absent, as though his mind was far away.
Lilianne gave Laurent a pained look.
Are you still hurting because of your expulsion?
Lilianne thought of how Laurent had been just after his expulsion.
At that time, he looked just like an abandoned puppy.
Compared to then, he seemed like he had rallied himself now.
But even so, Lilianne could see just how strongly it still affected him.
Though Laurent was now playing a supporting role behind the scenes, Lilianne wanted him to return as an adventurer.
And if possible, she wanted Laurent to help her create another attacking force for Guardians of the Magical Tree.
To be exact, she hoped for him to be the commander of that attack force.
If that came to pass, they would be able to take possession of two dungeons. Overthrowing Golden Hawk would no longer be a distant dream.
She almost said something, but when she saw his weary expression, she held her tongue.
I must be patient.
She drew up a soft, protective smile.
Let’s give him time to recover his self-confidence.
Contrary to her thoughts, Laurent’s head was occupied by the Elven girl, Charl, whom he had met yesterday.
It’s not as though I have any right to go poking around in an elven household’s business. But that girl…
He recalled the girl’s skills once again.
It was not just a matter of having a natural disposition for it.
She had an extraordinary interest and deep passion for alchemy.
That I can’t overlook.
“Shall we get out of here?” Lilianne stood as Laurent sank deep into his thoughts.
At her voice, he was startled and returned to himself.
That wasn’t polite, spacing out in front of Lilianne like that.
Laurent set aside his thoughts of Charl for the moment, and refocused on responding to Lilianne.
“I’ll walk you halfway.”
“Ara, I would appreciate that.”
Lilianne accepted Laurent’s offer, beaming.
——
“Speaking of which, have you heard of Count Elson’s Silver Fair*?” Lilianne broached the topic as they walked and chatted lightly.
(T/N: Silverworks contest is a mouthful and sounds kind of weird, so from now on, I’m calling it the Silver Fair.)
“A Silver Fair? I heard of it from somewhere.” Oh, right. It was Zens-san who spoke of it. Something about how a nobleman was holding a Silver Fair for his daughter’s wedding gift. “Yes, I remember now. I heard from someone else in the business that the fair is making it difficult for them. Lucius put out another one of his unreasonable demands, apparently.”
“Will Arsenal of the Spirits make an appearance, as well?”
“Eh? Are we allowed to enter the contest, too?”
“Yes. From what I’ve heard, Count Elson is hoping for a big contest with as many alchemists as possible, regardless of their guild’s status or size. It seems like he’s hoping to find a diamond in the rough by cranking up the pressure and the competitiveness among alchemist circles.”
“Is that so?”
“So, how about it? Will Arsenal of the Spirits also participate? All you need to do to participate is apply at Quest Reception.”
“Maybe, but we don’t exactly have a talented silverworker with us…”
“Well, think about it. Anyway…” Lilianne smiled impishly. “You’re just as oblivious as ever, aren’t you, Laurent-san?”
Laurent tilted his head in confusion.
“That cute girl has been staring at you most ardently for a while now.” She stole a glance over her shoulder.
Laurent looked over as well. Pointed ears peeked out from the buildings’ shadows.
Elven ears.
“Charl?”
“An acquaintance of yours? I’ll head off first, then.”
“Eh? But—”
“She seems like she wants to talk to you. And you have something you want to say to her as well, don’t you?” Lilianne said with a knowing smile.
Laurent smiled wryly.
I really can’t get anything past her.
“… Pardon me. It seems you always know what I need before I do.”
“It’s nothing. If it means that you are able to give more of your focus to your work, then it’s hardly any trouble for me.” Lilianne fixed Laurent with a sudden, sober look. “Guiding others’ talents and setting them on the right path when they’re lost is something that only you can do. Please, have more faith in yourself.”
“Thank you, Lilianne-san. That girl’s talents will surely be a great asset not only to Arsenal of the Spirits but also to you and Guardians of the Magical Tree.”
“Ara. Seeing the kind of talents you will bring out in that girl would be my pleasure. I look forward to it,” Lilianne said with a small bow, before leaving Laurent to himself.
Laurent drew closer to the pointed ears peeping out from behind the building, and spoke. “What are you doing back here?”
It was, indeed, Charl there.
She smiled shyly.
“Come on. We don’t have much, but I’ll be able to serve some refreshments at the workshop.” Laurent showed her into the workshop’s reception area.
She did not say a single word, but as Laurent chatted aimlessly about lighter topics, she eventually began to join in, little by little.
Once she had relaxed enough, Laurent delved into the heart of the matter. “Charl, I know your father has said that he has no intention of allowing you to work here, but what do you think? Would you like to try working as an alchemist?”
She lowered her head in embarrassment and gave the smallest of nods.
“I see. Very well. That’s all I needed to know. Charl, the guild, Arsenal of the Spirits, would like to officially recruit you as a silverworker. Do you accept it?”
“But, my father…”
“It’s fine. I’ll persuade him. You have my word.”
——
The next day, a new building was constructed next to the elves’ flower shop.
Ivy grew over the wooden walls, and the door was made of vines. It looked just like an elven home.
Inside, it was hard to believe that people lived in such beauty.
The interior was enclosed in greenery, and it was as though it was deep within a forest.
Freshwater flowed steadily from a fountain, and trees filled the space within.
The room was suffused with constant fresh air.
The plants had all been purchased from the elves’ flower shop.
“This…” Isua looked around the room, stunned. As the owner of the flower shop, he had come to deliver the plants.
It was just like his hometown.
Inside the building, where the fountain flowed, there was a single, small wooden table. On the table, there was a hammer with a wooden handle and other essential alchemical tools. There was also a huge amount of silverworking products laid out.
And sitting before that table was a young elven girl. Even now, Charl hammered away at some silver with her metal tools, curving it into a fine silver product.
“I’m terribly sorry. She came in of her own accord somehow. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t listen,” Laurent said from behind Isua.
“You’re that alchemist guild’s, um…”
“Laurent.”
“Did you build this place?” Isua looked conflicted.
On one hand, Laurent was the valued customer who had bought so many things from his store. On the other, a bothersome neighbour had popped up. His feelings from those two things gave rise to his current conflict.
“Please take a look at this,” Laurent said. He showed Isua the many products Charl had created. “This is what she has made here.”
“Ridiculous. You can’t start a fire in a home like this; creating something as delicate as this is simply not…”
“She is an extraordinarily skilled silverworker. Please look at her.”
Charl hammered at the silver. She fashioned its form freely, almost as though she was shaping clay with her fingers.
The silver gave off an almost imperceptible heat, tinged a slight red.
Charl had imbued a spirit into the silver, and because of that, she could control the silver’s temperature freely.
Charl’s eyes gleamed as she poured her single-minded focus over her work.
Amazing. I’ve never seen such high-quality silver. She shapes it into exactly what she wants so easily, Isua thought, his eyes wide. Charl’s alchemy was beyond anything he had imagined.
Laurent spoke to Isua again, just as Charl’s work came to a natural stopping point. “Isua-san, I would never make your daughter work in a dark cave with stale air. I will not allow her health to be harmed, and she will not be doing any rough work like smelting or molding. Could you please find it in yourself to allow us to employ your daughter?”
“Dad… I want to work with Laurent-san. Please, give me permission.”
Isua flinched at his daughter’s earnest wish. “… Have it your way,” he said, and promptly left the premises.
Though his face was a mask of displeasure, some contentment seeped through the cracks.
The next day, a large quantity of refined, high-quality silver was brought to Forest House.
The silver brought in was transformed into jewellery such as rings, necklaces, headpieces, broaches, earrings and bracelets. Aside from those, there were also daily products like bowls and plates, spoons and forks, and even goblets. The finished products were all delivered to a storage facility on the outskirts of town.
“W-What?”
The elf girl backed away warily from the man who had suddenly approached her.
It seemed that she was afraid of Laurent.
“Alchemist skills… why an elf…?” When Laurent said this, the elf girl started in surprise and looked over at him.
How does this person know my skills? She thought.
For a moment, both of them stared at each other, wondering at each other’s strangeness.
“Pardon me, but do you have any business with my daughter?”
Laurent turned toward the voice. There was an elf who looked to be the girl’s mother.
Like all elves, she appeared young. It was difficult to think that she was already a mother, but from her expression and her behaviour, there was a melancholy drifting from her that was somehow characteristic of mothers. He could perceive that she had laboured through parenthood and life.
Just like her daughter, she gave Laurent a frightened look. He wondered if they were perhaps fearful of strangers.
“Excuse me, I represent the alchemist guild, Arsenal of the Spirits.”
“Alchemist…”
“Out of curiosity, I appraised your daughter’s skills just then. I found that she possesses many skills for silverwork, and inadvertently called out to her in surprise.”
“Appraisal… So you’re an appraiser?”
“Yes. Your daughter has a rare gift. Though she is an elf, she possesses [Silverwork], [Product Development] and even [Product Design] skills. And even more, I could see that there still is room for improvement for them.”
This man… In the span of an instant in which they passed by each other, he managed to detect my girl’s skill to this extent… It’s the first time I have seen an appraiser of his caliber.
“I hope I am not being too forward in asking the details of how your daughter came to acquire such a degree of alchemical knowledge?”
“This isn’t the best place.” She looked around restlessly, acutely aware of the surrounding gazes. “If it is alright with you, would you like to talk inside my shop?” She gave a small smile. It was the smile of someone who knew she was caught between a rock and a hard place.
Laurent obliged her suggestion and entered the shop.
In the elf-run flower shop, flowers of every colour bloomed in every corner.
Elves could form deep, emotional bonds with the natural world, so they had the ability to nurture the growth of flora.
They must have fostered that ability, for the array of floral products was as splendid as one would expect.
From seasonal flowers to flowers that were not supposed to bloom at this time of the year, they blossomed in abundance. He thought that there probably was not a single flower that did not bloom in this store.
It was only that the way in which the flowers and their prices were being displayed was not quite up to par. It seemed like they weren’t handling the business very smoothly.
After closing up the store, the elf mother showed Laurent into the back room.
There, she formally introduced herself and her daughter.
Her daughter’s name was Charl.
The mother’s name was Selyse.*
(T/N: The romanisation of her name is Shiruzu. I considered Sylis, but that made me think of syphilis, so…)
“When my daughter was young, she lived in a dwarven cave.”
“Dwarven? How did that happen?”
“A long time ago, there was a conflict between elves and dwarves. During that time, our village was attacked, and in the confusion, she was taken away.”
“That’s…”
“She was a prisoner of war, but it does not seem like she was ill-treated or assaulted. For some reason, some of the dwarves even taught her alchemy.”
“And that’s how she came by her alchemy skills.”
Dwarves lived in cave systems. They made a living from processing the ores that they mined from there, and many of them were proficient in alchemy.
If Charl studied alchemy under the dwarves, it was not a strange thing at all that she was equipped with such alchemy skills.
“After the dispute with the dwarves came to an end, she was returned safely to us. But it seems like even after she came back, she’s been practicing her alchemy in secret.” At Selyse’s words, Charl hung her head in shame.
It was apparent that coming from an elven household, having a daughter who specialised in alchemy, was not something they had happily come to grips with.
“If it is alright with you, I would like to try employing your daughter at my workshop. My workshop is currently looking for exceptional alchemists. It might be a bit difficult to understand, but with her talent and skill in alchemy, she would be an immediate asset. We would treat her with respect, just like an S-rank silverworker.”
“S-rank…” Selyse looked breathless.
She seemed shocked. She had likely never thought that her daughter had talent to the extent he was describing.
“Not putting her talents to full use would truly be a wasted opportunity. I beg you, let her come work with me.”
“I… I would have to discuss this with my husband,” the Elven mother replied ambiguously, giving him a strained smile. She seemed like an obedient wife.
Laurent pitched his offer for Charl to work at his workshop to her father.
But the reply he received from the Elven father was blunt. “Absolutely not! I will never permit my daughter to work at an alchemist workshop!”
Charl’s father, Isua, was a stereotypical, stubborn old man.
Though he looked as youthful as any elf, he was not fooling anyone with the air that he exuded.
In his displeasure, the deep furrow between his brows told of his obstinate ideas formed through his long years.
“Alchemy is a dwarf’s work. That lot belongs in their caves, hammering away at their metals. A daughter that takes after them, even a pale imitation—I won’t have it!” He was prejudiced against dwarves.
Elves and dwarves had a deep-seated conflict between them, and they scorned each other.
In the past, dwarves had disposed of their mercury in the rivers of Isua’s hometown, and he had never forgiven them for it.
The elves grew to hate dwarves and everything they stood for—even the alchemy that so many dwarves made a living with.
Laurent told him that all he wanted was for Charl to do some silverworking for him and that he had no intention of forcing her. But Isua still refused.
“Besides, isn’t the workshop a dirty place filled with smoke and soot in the air? We elves must be surrounded by greenery and clear waters, or we would immediately begin to suffocate. Even at the best of times, we are deprived of fresh air in this city. I will not expose my daughter to filthier air.”
Isua was a merchant from the Elven country.
In this free city, nationality, race and species did not matter. Anyone could come here for trade or adventure. But Isua had come to the city to purchase weapons.
Though he was prejudiced against and detested dwarves and alchemy, the Elven country itself was not free from war or territorial disputes. He had little choice but to rely on weapons.
He had drawn the short straw and had been dispatched to this city. It wasn’t entirely a bad thing, but it meant resigning himself to this life where he sold flowers and did as best as he could to buy weapons for his country.
“Regardless, I have no intention of allowing my daughter to work for you. Leave.”
Crestfallen, Laurent left the flower shop.
——
The next day, Laurent met Lilianne at their usual teahouse to discuss business.
“Then, shall we say 150 pieces of [Earth Stones] for this month?” Lilianne said, glancing at the papers Laurent had prepared.
“Yes, that would be great.”
“It’s about time a new dungeon will appear. We will need the [Earth Stones] when that time comes.”
“Do you think you can conquer at least two dungeons next month?”
“You’re as demanding as always.”
Last month, Guardians of the Magical Tree had managed to take possession of one dungeon, but the other two had fallen into Golden Hawk’s hands.
Up to three dungeons were guaranteed to appear around the city, but before last month, Golden Hawk had occupied all three.
Because of that, the second-ranked and lower adventurer guilds, starting from Guardians of the Magical Tree, had diligently gathered their resources before Golden Hawk conquered the dungeons. They completed quests, or participated in gathering materials after the dungeon was cleared—the reality was that they were trying their hardest to earn money.
This month, Lilianne had led the main force of Guardians of the Magical Tree and managed to conquer one dungeon before Golden Hawk. But as for the remaining two dungeons, they had been acquired by Golden Hawk as usual.
It was an inevitable outcome.
The standard required in the dungeon exploration force was thirty people.
Golden Hawk had three 30-man elite units capable of exploring the deepest sections of the dungeons.
It was impossible for other guilds to prepare that much manpower.
Within the city, the guild that boasted the second largest in scale was Guardians of the Magical Tree. And even they, at their very best, only had one 30-man elite unit at their disposal.
“Is that so? I suppose it’s hard even for you.”
“Yes, very much so. When I think of the weight of the guild’s fate resting on my shoulders, the pressure is terrifying.” Lilianne seemed tired. “It would help a lot if we could put together one more main attack force, but that isn’t going to happen.”
“… I see,” Laurent replied. He seemed absent, as though his mind was far away.
Lilianne gave Laurent a pained look.
Are you still hurting because of your expulsion?
Lilianne thought of how Laurent had been just after his expulsion.
At that time, he looked just like an abandoned puppy.
Compared to then, he seemed like he had rallied himself now.
But even so, Lilianne could see just how strongly it still affected him.
Though Laurent was now playing a supporting role behind the scenes, Lilianne wanted him to return as an adventurer.
And if possible, she wanted Laurent to help her create another attacking force for Guardians of the Magical Tree.
To be exact, she hoped for him to be the commander of that attack force.
If that came to pass, they would be able to take possession of two dungeons. Overthrowing Golden Hawk would no longer be a distant dream.
She almost said something, but when she saw his weary expression, she held her tongue.
I must be patient.
She drew up a soft, protective smile.
Let’s give him time to recover his self-confidence.
Contrary to her thoughts, Laurent’s head was occupied by the Elven girl, Charl, whom he had met yesterday.
It’s not as though I have any right to go poking around in an elven household’s business. But that girl…
He recalled the girl’s skills once again.
It was not just a matter of having a natural disposition for it.
She had an extraordinary interest and deep passion for alchemy.
That I can’t overlook.
“Shall we get out of here?” Lilianne stood as Laurent sank deep into his thoughts.
At her voice, he was startled and returned to himself.
That wasn’t polite, spacing out in front of Lilianne like that.
Laurent set aside his thoughts of Charl for the moment, and refocused on responding to Lilianne.
“I’ll walk you halfway.”
“Ara, I would appreciate that.”
Lilianne accepted Laurent’s offer, beaming.
——
“Speaking of which, have you heard of Count Elson’s Silver Fair*?” Lilianne broached the topic as they walked and chatted lightly.
(T/N: Silverworks contest is a mouthful and sounds kind of weird, so from now on, I’m calling it the Silver Fair.)
“A Silver Fair? I heard of it from somewhere.” Oh, right. It was Zens-san who spoke of it. Something about how a nobleman was holding a Silver Fair for his daughter’s wedding gift. “Yes, I remember now. I heard from someone else in the business that the fair is making it difficult for them. Lucius put out another one of his unreasonable demands, apparently.”
“Will Arsenal of the Spirits make an appearance, as well?”
“Eh? Are we allowed to enter the contest, too?”
“Yes. From what I’ve heard, Count Elson is hoping for a big contest with as many alchemists as possible, regardless of their guild’s status or size. It seems like he’s hoping to find a diamond in the rough by cranking up the pressure and the competitiveness among alchemist circles.”
“Is that so?”
“So, how about it? Will Arsenal of the Spirits also participate? All you need to do to participate is apply at Quest Reception.”
“Maybe, but we don’t exactly have a talented silverworker with us…”
“Well, think about it. Anyway…” Lilianne smiled impishly. “You’re just as oblivious as ever, aren’t you, Laurent-san?”
Laurent tilted his head in confusion.
“That cute girl has been staring at you most ardently for a while now.” She stole a glance over her shoulder.
Laurent looked over as well. Pointed ears peeked out from the buildings’ shadows.
Elven ears.
“Charl?”
“An acquaintance of yours? I’ll head off first, then.”
“Eh? But—”
“She seems like she wants to talk to you. And you have something you want to say to her as well, don’t you?” Lilianne said with a knowing smile.
Laurent smiled wryly.
I really can’t get anything past her.
“… Pardon me. It seems you always know what I need before I do.”
“It’s nothing. If it means that you are able to give more of your focus to your work, then it’s hardly any trouble for me.” Lilianne fixed Laurent with a sudden, sober look. “Guiding others’ talents and setting them on the right path when they’re lost is something that only you can do. Please, have more faith in yourself.”
“Thank you, Lilianne-san. That girl’s talents will surely be a great asset not only to Arsenal of the Spirits but also to you and Guardians of the Magical Tree.”
“Ara. Seeing the kind of talents you will bring out in that girl would be my pleasure. I look forward to it,” Lilianne said with a small bow, before leaving Laurent to himself.
Laurent drew closer to the pointed ears peeping out from behind the building, and spoke. “What are you doing back here?”
It was, indeed, Charl there.
She smiled shyly.
“Come on. We don’t have much, but I’ll be able to serve some refreshments at the workshop.” Laurent showed her into the workshop’s reception area.
She did not say a single word, but as Laurent chatted aimlessly about lighter topics, she eventually began to join in, little by little.
Once she had relaxed enough, Laurent delved into the heart of the matter. “Charl, I know your father has said that he has no intention of allowing you to work here, but what do you think? Would you like to try working as an alchemist?”
She lowered her head in embarrassment and gave the smallest of nods.
“I see. Very well. That’s all I needed to know. Charl, the guild, Arsenal of the Spirits, would like to officially recruit you as a silverworker. Do you accept it?”
“But, my father…”
“It’s fine. I’ll persuade him. You have my word.”
——
The next day, a new building was constructed next to the elves’ flower shop.
Ivy grew over the wooden walls, and the door was made of vines. It looked just like an elven home.
Inside, it was hard to believe that people lived in such beauty.
The interior was enclosed in greenery, and it was as though it was deep within a forest.
Freshwater flowed steadily from a fountain, and trees filled the space within.
The room was suffused with constant fresh air.
The plants had all been purchased from the elves’ flower shop.
“This…” Isua looked around the room, stunned. As the owner of the flower shop, he had come to deliver the plants.
It was just like his hometown.
Inside the building, where the fountain flowed, there was a single, small wooden table. On the table, there was a hammer with a wooden handle and other essential alchemical tools. There was also a huge amount of silverworking products laid out.
And sitting before that table was a young elven girl. Even now, Charl hammered away at some silver with her metal tools, curving it into a fine silver product.
“I’m terribly sorry. She came in of her own accord somehow. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t listen,” Laurent said from behind Isua.
“You’re that alchemist guild’s, um…”
“Laurent.”
“Did you build this place?” Isua looked conflicted.
On one hand, Laurent was the valued customer who had bought so many things from his store. On the other, a bothersome neighbour had popped up. His feelings from those two things gave rise to his current conflict.
“Please take a look at this,” Laurent said. He showed Isua the many products Charl had created. “This is what she has made here.”
“Ridiculous. You can’t start a fire in a home like this; creating something as delicate as this is simply not…”
“She is an extraordinarily skilled silverworker. Please look at her.”
Charl hammered at the silver. She fashioned its form freely, almost as though she was shaping clay with her fingers.
The silver gave off an almost imperceptible heat, tinged a slight red.
Charl had imbued a spirit into the silver, and because of that, she could control the silver’s temperature freely.
Charl’s eyes gleamed as she poured her single-minded focus over her work.
Amazing. I’ve never seen such high-quality silver. She shapes it into exactly what she wants so easily, Isua thought, his eyes wide. Charl’s alchemy was beyond anything he had imagined.
Laurent spoke to Isua again, just as Charl’s work came to a natural stopping point. “Isua-san, I would never make your daughter work in a dark cave with stale air. I will not allow her health to be harmed, and she will not be doing any rough work like smelting or molding. Could you please find it in yourself to allow us to employ your daughter?”
“Dad… I want to work with Laurent-san. Please, give me permission.”
Isua flinched at his daughter’s earnest wish. “… Have it your way,” he said, and promptly left the premises.
Though his face was a mask of displeasure, some contentment seeped through the cracks.
The next day, a large quantity of refined, high-quality silver was brought to Forest House.
The silver brought in was transformed into jewellery such as rings, necklaces, headpieces, broaches, earrings and bracelets. Aside from those, there were also daily products like bowls and plates, spoons and forks, and even goblets. The finished products were all delivered to a storage facility on the outskirts of town.
