Chapter 162 A New Starting Line
I stood alongside my mentor for the first time, synthesizing and exchanging tips on our synthesis methods. Before I knew it, a considerable amount of time had passed, and we had been synthesizing non-stop.
Feeling a bit exhausted, I suggested taking a break, and I brewed some tea again. During our break, I brought up the topic of my secret plan for the future ―― guiding the city's alchemists.
"Guiding the city's alchemists?"
"It's not a big deal, but things like study groups, donating books, and such..."
"I see. That's definitely necessary."
My mentor nodded, stroking her chin. After taking a sip of tea, she began to speak in a low, serious tone.
"If you're going to cover every small village, it'll require a tremendous amount of labor and time. And if you're going to do it regularly... you'll be traveling for guidance all year round, won't you?"
That's right. The problem ultimately lies there.
Until now, the country has been overlooking the city's alchemists, who might have been creating healing potions with incorrect knowledge through self-study. It's because managing them would require too much labor. Although the larger cities have branches, the current situation is that they can't keep up with the smaller villages.
The reason we don't have a support system in place is that it would take an enormous amount of time and labor to start from scratch. It's better to turn a blind eye, they might think.
――But someone has to do it someday.
"I've been thinking, what if we help create connections between alchemists in neighboring towns and villages, and then have them exchange information and hold study groups on their own..."
"That's creating an environment for the first time, isn't it?"
I nodded in agreement with my mentor's words.
I don't need to do everything myself. In fact, it's impossible. It's more realistic to leave the alchemists' autonomy in their studies and focus on creating an environment for them.
"Of course, it's necessary to check in regularly, but if things take shape, the branch office might be able to support... though it'll increase their workload."
"That's true, it needs to do some groundwork."
Groundwork. Just hearing that word makes me feel like I'm carrying a heavy burden.
It's an area I'm not good at. I'm really bad at it. Even Flaria, the branch office chief, didn't trust me until the very end, and it's sad to say, but I don't have the skills to win people over. I don't have the charm to make people like me, nor do I have the conversational skills to draw people in.
It's not that my mentor is bad, but it hurts when they hit my weak spot, and I glare at them with a mixture of frustration and resentment.
"Groundwork, some kind of alchemist for the branch office or the city..."
"And then there's the city's authority figure, right?"
"Huh, why's that?"
I ask in a slightly annoyed tone, and my mentor looks back at me, saying, "It's only natural, isn't it?"
"A Royal Alchemist is employed by the nation, after all. If they're suspected of snooping around the authority's territory, even if you didn't mean to, it could still cause harm to the nation. It needed to consider the worst-case scenario and be careful. That's why it needed to do the groundwork properly."
"Is that so..."
My mentor points out the sparks I couldn't imagine, and I'm genuinely impressed.
Her words have a strange persuasive power. Maybe she's had similar experiences herself. Maybe she was suspected by the city's authority figure when she was a Royal Alchemist...
My mentor lets out a sigh, looking a bit troubled, and continues in a lower tone than usual.
"People who are being investigated are more sensitive, and it's better to show respect to the authority figures who control the region."
"I understand... it's a good lesson."
Royal Alchemist. That's a title guaranteed by the country, meaning I'm an alchemist who can get things done smoothly and efficiently. But if one looks at it from a different perspective, it's like I'm shouldering the country's responsibilities. I can't afford to do anything that would harm the country.
From now on, I'll be expected to be more mindful of my actions and words, considering my position. It's a tough demand for a young girl like me who hasn't learned proper etiquette, but I can't afford to be careless and wait until it's too late.
That's what I'm thinking, but what came out of my mouth was a deep sigh.
"You're used to synthesizing, so guiding others might be tougher for you, don't you think?"
"It's a pretty high wall to climb..."
The more I think about it realistically, the more I feel like I'm making a reckless plan. Maybe it's true. Maybe the burden is too heavy for a young girl like me who's only been given a talent.
But every time I feel like giving up, I remember the image of a female alchemist who worked hard in Petania, a small town. I can't forget the tears she shed to help a young girl.
If the city's alchemists could acquire the right knowledge, they could definitely save more lives. That's what I think, and someone has to do it.
Luckily, I have plenty of time. Becoming a Royal Alchemist is almost like achieving my life's goal, and it's a goal worth dedicating my entire life to.
Haa, I let out a long sigh, and then smiled at my mentor. Maybe my smile looked a bit pathetic. But that was okay.
"I don't think I can do it in just a few years, so I'll take my time. Besides, I need to become a regular alchemist first."
"By the way, you're still an assistant, aren't you?"
"That's right."
Sometimes, I even forget myself, but I'm still not a full-fledged Royal Alchemist. By next spring, I'll be able to take the exam to get promoted. My current goal is to pass that exam in one shot.
"Then, above all, I need to get permission from my boss."
"To make a realistic plan and get approval, right?"
Since I still haven't gotten permission from Kasper-san, everything I'm saying now is just my wild imagination. I haven't even reached the starting line yet.
――The starting line.
The word that floated in my mind reminds me of the day I saw off the Hero's departure, feeling like I'd reached the goal. But I thought I'd reached the goal, and yet I set a new starting point for myself.
I also thought I'd take a break, but I ended up running again.
After everything was over, I dreamed of a peaceful world where the Hero had defeated the demon king.
"Alright, let's do this."
"Woof!"
The water spirit behind me cheered me on like it was pushing my back.
――After that, I sent off the water spirit that Marta gave me, along with a letter and a healing potion synthesized with my mentor, to Lukas's place.
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